Just two generations ago, many families sustained themselves on the fruit of their own labor. Gardens were tended and produce was canned in order to supply food for the year. Chickens were raised for a daily supply of the eggs they provided and eventually, meat for the freezer. A trip to the grocery was infrequent and only for basic staples. The individuals of that time were self sufficient.

Somewhere between then and now, society was offered the ease of an abundant supply of food at any time of the day. The small grocery turned into the huge supermarket with shelves stocked row by row. Being reliant on food products of an unknown source has become a normal way of life.

If the current source of food items that are available to us today would cease, what would you do? Do you know how to make a loaf of bread, or even a meal from scratch? The knowledge of how to sustain yourself is the first defense for survival. Although there may never be an emergency of such magnitude that requires self-sustaining knowledge, it is important to possess an understanding of how to take care of yourself.

Learning about self sufficient living can be acquired in many ways. There are many reading resources that will provide information on gardening, canning, preserving, and raising animals for butchering. A valuable untapped resource is the knowledge possessed by those who have performed these tasks. These individuals can recount the details of how to make the best with less.

Taking the steps toward a self sufficient lifestyle is not limited to those who live in a rural environment. City dwellers can preserve using the produce sold at a local farm market. A self sustaining lifestyle can be started with small steps that lead to a whole new way of life. The knowledge obtained during the journey will prepare you in the event of an real emergency.